Project description
Catching flies to check how evolution modifies olfactory pathways
Flies are annoying, but they are also fascinating. Researchers are studying Drosophila sechellia and Drosophila melanogaster species to learn how they have adapted to different niches and display distinct odour-evoked behaviours. They are one example of how animals are able to adapt to their ecological niche by developing unique behavioural strategies. The EU-funded CAOCD project will focus on the underlying changes in neuronal circuit structure and function. Currently, little is known about this. The aim is to understand how olfactory pathways are modified during evolution to confer species specific behaviours. For instance, calcium imaging will be used to record physiological responses in the flies’ antennal lobe to volatile cues evoking short- and long-range attraction behaviour.
Objective
Animals have adapted to their ecological niche by developing unique behavioral strategies. However, little is known about the underlying changes in neuronal circuit structure and/or function. To understand how evolution might modify nervous systems, I propose to perform comparative neurobiological analyses of the anatomy and physiology of central olfactory circuitry in two drosophilid species (Drosophila sechellia and D. melanogaster), which have adapted to different niches and display distinct odor-evoked behaviors. Although several changes in peripheral, sensory neuron properties have been observed between these species, the function and evolution of central circuitry has not yet been examined. The architecture and the neuronal coding properties of the primary olfactory center (antennal lobe; AL) of D. melanogaster is well-characterized and thus serves as an excellent “reference” for interspecies comparison. Using new neurogenetic approaches in D. sechellia, I will first use calcium imaging to record physiological responses in the AL to volatile cues evoking short- and long-range attraction behavior. Second, I will trace the projections of second-order olfactory neurons to higher brain centers using genetically-encoded photoactivable markers and/or trans-synaptic tracers. Third, I will study the structure and function of these central pathways in odor-evoked attraction by combining trans-synaptic labeling and optogenetics. Together, these experiments will help us understand how different olfactory pathways mediate long and short range attraction and how they are modified during evolution to confer species-specific behavioral outputs.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1015 LAUSANNE
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.